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NASCAR Begins Team Owner Charter System for Sprint Cup Series

NASCAR announced a nine-year agreement on Tuesday that grants NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Charters to 36 teams, allowing teams that remain in good standing more predictable revenue.

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“Today represents a landmark change to the business model of team ownership in NASCAR,” said Brian France, NASCAR’s chairman and CEO. “The Charter agreements provide nine years of stability for NASCAR and the teams to focus on growth initiatives together with our track partners, auto manufacturers, drivers and sponsors. The Charters also are transferable, which will aid in the development of long-term enterprise value for Charter members.”

The 36 Charter teams have a guaranteed entry into the field of every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points race. The rest of the field will be open for team owners who do not hold Charters. These open team owners will compete for the remaining starting spots and positions in the race, as each event in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ starting lineup shifts in 2016 to a 40-car field.

The last time a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway started with less than 43 cars was the MBNA 400 on Sept. 21, 1997 (42 cars). The last time a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover started with 40 cars was the MBNA 500 on Sept. 17, 1995.

“The new team owner agreements will offer a more appealing environment for both current and prospective team owners at the NASCAR premier series level,” France said. “I’ve always stressed that if we can do things to improve the business of our stakeholders, we will pursue it. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished … with this agreement.”

Similar to the five-year sanctioning agreements that NASCAR begins with tracks, including Dover International Speedway, this year, team owner Charter agreements allow for longer planning cycles around competition, innovation, digital marketing, governance and research and development.

“The new Charter program strengthens each of our businesses individually and the team model as a whole, which is good for NASCAR, our fans, drivers, sponsors and the thousands of people who we employ,” said Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. “This will give us more stability and predictability, and it will allow us to take a more progressive, long-term approach to issues.”

See chart below for list of existing Charters.

For more information on Dover International Speedway’s NASCAR tripleheader weekends on May 13-15 and Sept. 30-Oct. 2, click here or call 800-441-RACE.

NASCAR Charter teams

(Listed by historical inception of race team entity, then numerical)

2015 Car #

2016 Car #

Organization

43

43

Richard Petty Motorsports

9

44

Richard Petty Motorsports

3

3

Richard Childress Racing

27

27

Richard Childress Racing

31

31

Richard Childress Racing

2

2

Team Penske

22

22

Team Penske

5

5

Hendrick Motorsports

24

24

Hendrick Motorsports

48

48

Hendrick Motorsports

88

88

Hendrick Motorsports

6

6

Roush Fenway Racing

16

16

Roush Fenway Racing

17

17

Roush Fenway Racing

1

1

Chip Ganassi Racing

42

42

Chip Ganassi Racing

11

11

Joe Gibbs Racing

18

18

Joe Gibbs Racing

20

20

Joe Gibbs Racing

15

TBD

Michael Waltrip Racing

55

TBD

Michael Waltrip Racing

4

4

Stewart-Haas Racing

10

10

Stewart-Haas Racing

14

14

Stewart-Haas Racing

78

78

Furniture Row Racing

35

34

Front Row Motorsports

38

38

Front Row Motorsports

47

47

JTG Daugherty Racing

7

7

Tommy Baldwin Racing

13

13

Germain Racing

32

32

Go Fas Racing

23

23

BK Racing

83

83

BK Racing

62

62

Premium Motorsports

33

95

Circle Sport Racing

51

15

HScott Motorsports

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Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) is a leading promoter of NASCAR sanctioned motorsports events whose subsidiaries own and operate Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn. The company also plays host to the Firefly Music Festival, produced by Red Frog Events and Goldenvoice. For more information, visit www.DoverMotorsports.com.